Frank Ulom
PIRAEUS (CONVERSEER) – Kylian Mbappé delivered a sensational four-goal performance to guide Real Madrid to a thrilling 4–3 victory over Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
Despite an unconvincing team display, the French forward’s brilliance proved decisive, while Vinicius Jr played a key supporting role amid a turbulent week off the pitch.
Real Madrid endured a poor start, struggling to settle as Olympiacos pressed with confidence. The home side took a deserved lead with a superb move that ended in Chiquinho firing powerfully into the bottom corner from 20 yards, leaving the home crowd momentarily stunned.
The response from Madrid was immediate and explosive. Mbappé ignited the comeback with a stunning seven-minute hat-trick. His first arrived in the 22nd minute when he latched onto an audacious trivela pass from Vinicius before finishing coolly through the goalkeeper’s legs. Moments later, he doubled the lead with a precise header, and he completed his rapid treble by timing a run in behind the Olympiacos defence to slide the ball into the far corner.
Madrid thought they had extended their advantage when Vinicius curled in a fine effort shortly after the half-hour mark, but the goal was ruled out due to an offside in the build-up.
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Olympiacos regrouped after the break and found a way back into the contest when Mehdi Taremi rose between Madrid’s centre-backs to nod in a floated cross. The Greek side almost added another soon after, forcing reserve goalkeeper Andriy Lunin into a sharp save.
Mbappé restored Madrid’s cushion midway through the second half, turning in a low cut-back following a superb individual run from Vinicius down the left flank.
Olympiacos, however, refused to fade and claimed a deserved third as they intensified pressure late on, pushing Madrid deep into their own half.
Despite the growing threat, Los Blancos held firm in the closing stages to secure an important European win, though the defensive lapses and lack of control ensured that the focus will once again fall on their reliance on Mbappé’s extraordinary form.
